Comparison
CrispPDF Excel to PDF vs Smallpdf
Both CrispPDF and Smallpdf let you .xlsx → pdf online. The difference is where the work happens and what it costs you. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at how the two stack up in 2026 — no affiliate links, no sponsored placement.
| Feature | CrispPDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free tier + Pro $9/mo |
| Free-tier limit | Unlimited | 2 tasks per day on free |
| Signup required | Never | Account required for most tools |
| Watermark on output | Never | No watermark |
| File upload | In-memory, discarded after | Files uploaded to server |
| Works offline | Yes (after first load) | No |
| Open source friendly | Yes — MIT-style terms | Proprietary |
// FAQ
Frequently asked
+Is CrispPDF really free vs Smallpdf?
Yes — every CrispPDF tool including Excel to PDF is free forever, with no daily task limit, no email gate, and no watermark.
+Why would I use Smallpdf instead?
Smallpdf makes sense if your team needs enterprise SSO, audit logs, or batch automation via API. For one-off and freelance work, CrispPDF is usually faster.
+Is my file private with CrispPDF?
Files are processed in-memory and discarded immediately on CrispPDF; Smallpdf retains files per its cloud retention policy.